The Volunteer-led Operations (VLO) Lab
The Volunteer-Led Operations Lab is a SSHRC-funded research initiative aiming to improve the performance of operations that are primarily led by, or rely heavily upon, volunteers. We define ‘performance’ as retention, productivity, and quality. VLOs that improve retention are able to rely on a larger, more experience pools of volunteers. Improving productivity means improving the output-per volunteer, leading to greater social benefits. Quality means training volunteers and designing work to ensure maximum impact and limiting inefficient re-working of tasks.
Ongoing Research Projects
Volunteering and Customization
Rob Glew & Claire Senot
In this working paper, we investigate how customisation of the interaction between volunteers and a volunteer-led operation can enhance retention and engagement. In the context of a voluntary healthcare screening program, we show that removal of customisation is associated with a 20% reduction in retention.
Examining how group dynamics might mitigate this effect, we find that larger groups of volunteers were less influenced by the removal of customisation, suggesting that social norms may partially mitigate this effect.
Policymakers and managers can apply the findings of this research to design volunteer engagement strategies that leverage both the value of customisation in increasing engagement and the social dynamics we uncover amongst groups of volunteers.
Minorities in Volunteer Groups
Undergraduate Research Project, funded by a SSHRC Institutional Grant
Rob Glew & Tristan Bramlett
This project is investigating how group composition affects volunteer retention. VLOs that rely on groups of volunteers have the ability to manipulate the composition of these groups. We are analysing whether individuals who are visible minorities in their assigned volunteer groups are less engaged in the tasks and activities that other group members.
This research has the potential to guide voluntary work design at VLOs and improve equity and inclusion in the voluntary sector.
Enhancing Productivity in Micro-Volunteering
Undergraduate Research Project, funded by a SSHRC Institutional Grant
Rob Glew & Stefania Kyle
Micro-volunteering refers to voluntary work that can typically be done on a flexible schedule, primarily remotely, and takes no more than 1 hour per week to complete. Many VLOs rely on micro-volunteering to provide important social value, but micro-volunteering is plagued by challenges of poor retention, low quality work, and a highly variable workforce.
In this project, we compiling a worldwide database micro-volunteering activities and classifying their key features. We will use this database to identify best practice, significant barriers, and new opportunities for enhancing the productivity of micro-volunteering.
The VLO Lab Team
Rob Glew
Rob Glew is an Assistant Professor (CAS) of Operations Management and Data Analytics and Desautels Faculty of Management, McGill University. Prior to joining McGill, he received his PhD in engineering from the University of Cambridge (2023), where he studied the coordination challenges of ad hoc volunteer operations.
Tristan Bramlett
Tristan Bramlett is an RA (2024) at the VLO Lab. Tristan is a BCom student at McGill University, Desautels Faculty of Management where he is majoring in Economics. He is the co-President of McGill Data Network and has experience in operations consulting.
Stefania Kyle
Stefania Kye is an RA (2024) at the VLO Lab. Stefania is a BCom student at McGill University, Desautels faculty of Management where she is studying operations management and strategic management. Stefania has experience in project and operations management.